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The Curtiss SC Seahawk was a scout seaplane designed by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company for the United States Navy. The existing Curtiss SO3C Seamew and Vought OS2U Kingfisher were gradually replaced by the Seahawk in the late stages of the war and into peacetime.[1]

SC Seahawk
A U.S. Navy SC-1 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, in 1946
Role	Scout seaplane Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
First flight	16 February 1944
Introduction	1944
Retired	1949
Primary user	United States Navy
Number built	577

Design and development

Work began in June 1942, following a US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics request for observation seaplane proposals. Curtiss submitted the Seahawk design on 1 August 1942, with a contract for two prototypes and five service test aircraft awarded on 25 August.[1] A production order for 500 SC-1s followed in June 1943, prior to the first flight of the prototypes.[2]

While only intended to seat the pilot, a bunk was provided in the aft fuselage for rescue or personnel transfer. Two 0.5 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns were fitted in the wings, and two underwing hardpoints allowed carriage of 250 lb (113 kg) bombs or, on the right wing, surface-scan radar.[1] The wings were foldable.[3] The main float, designed to incorporate a bomb bay, suffered substantial leaks^{[citation needed]} when used in that fashion, and was modified to carry an auxiliary fuel tank.[1]

The first flight of a prototype XSC-1 took place 16 February 1944 at the Columbus, Ohio Curtiss plant.[4] Flight testing continued through 28 April, when the last of the seven pre-production aircraft took to the air. Nine further prototypes were later built, with a second seat and modified cockpit, under the designation SC-2; series production was not undertaken.

Operational history

The first serial production Seahawks were delivered on 22 October 1944, to USS Guam.[5] All 577 aircraft eventually produced for the Navy were delivered on conventional landing gear and flown to the appropriate Naval Air Station, where floats were fitted for service as needed.

Capable of being fitted with either float or wheeled landing gear, the Seahawk was arguably America's best floatplane scout of World War II. However, its protracted development time meant it entered service too late to see significant action in the war. It was not until June 1945, during the pre-invasion bombardment of Borneo, that the Seahawk was involved in military action.[1] By the end of the war, seaplanes were becoming less desirable, with the Seahawk being replaced soon afterward by helicopters.

Tri-color camouflage and markings on the Seahawk were in accordance with US Navy regulations from 1944, 1945, and later postwar regulations.

There are no known surviving examples of the Seahawk today.^{[citation needed]}

Variants

XSC-1

SC-1

SC-2

Specifications (SC-1, float-equipped)

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947[6]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: Facility for single stretcher patient
• Length: 36 ft 4.5 in (11.087 m)
• Wingspan: 41 ft 0 in (12.50 m)
• Height: 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m) on beaching gear
• Wing area: 280 sq ft (26 m²)
• Airfoil: root: NACA 23017; tip: NACA 23010[7]
• Empty weight: 6,320 lb (2,867 kg)
• Gross weight: 9,000 lb (4,082 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-1820-62 Cyclone 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,350 hp (1,010 kW)
• Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 313 mph (504 km/h, 272 kn) at 28,600 ft (8,700 m)
• Cruise speed: 125 mph (201 km/h, 109 kn)
• Range: 625 mi (1,006 km, 543 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 37,300 ft (11,400 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (13 m/s)

Armament

• Guns: 2 × .50 in (12.70 mm) M2 Browning machine guns
• Bombs: 2 × 325 lb (147 kg) bombs under-wing

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Vought OS2U Kingfisher
• Nakajima A6M2-N

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Curtiss SC Seahawk.

• Review by Richard Stracey of the SMER model of the Curtiss SC Seahawk

На других языках

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[de] Curtiss SC

Die Curtiss SC Seahawk war ein US-amerikanischer, einsitziger, bordgestützter Nahaufklärer aus der Zeit des Zweiten Weltkriegs.

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- [en] Curtiss SC Seahawk

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[fr] Curtiss SC Seahawk

Le Curtiss SC Seahawk était un hydravion de reconnaissance conçu par la Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company pour l'United States Navy. Les Curtiss SO3C Seamew et Vought OS2U Kingfisher alors utilisés par l'US Navy furent conçus en 1937 et en 1942, avaient besoin d'être remplacés.

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[it] Curtiss SC Seahawk

Il Curtiss SC Seahawk era un idroricognitore a galleggiante centrale, monomotore ad ala bassa, prodotto dall'azienda statunitense Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company negli anni quaranta.

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[ru] Curtiss SC Seahawk

Кёртис SC «Сихок» (англ. Curtiss SC Seahawk) — американский разведывательный гидросамолёт второй половины 1940-х. Разработан фирмой Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company по заказу ВМС США. Создан на смену устаревших разведывательных самолётов Curtiss SO3C Seamew и Vought OS2U Kingfisher, спроектированных в 1937 году[1]. Последний катапультный самолёт американского флота[2].

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